Photochemical Aminochlorination of Alkenes without the Use of an External Catalyst

Chemistry. 2023 Aug 10;29(45):e202301268. doi: 10.1002/chem.202301268. Epub 2023 Jul 12.

Abstract

The niche field of photochemistry offers opportunities that are not found in "traditional" ground state chemical pathways. Aminochlorinated derivatives are an interesting family of 1,2-difunctionalised compounds that provide access to a variety of natural products and pharmaceutical active substances. A practical, catalyst-free chloroamination protocol is described herein, providing access to intermediates of great importance, utilising mild and photochemical reaction conditions (370 nm), where N-chlorosulfonamides are used as both nitrogen and chlorine sources. A wide variety of olefins, decorated with a plethora of functional groups, was tested providing excellent results (28 examples, 18-88 % yield). Mechanistic studies (UV-Vis, control experiments and quantum yield measurement) were also performed.

Keywords: alkenes; aminochlorination; catalyst-free; green chemistry; photochemistry.